Give thanks in certainty

It feels funny to recommend a person give thanks in certainty because, well, certainty sounds awesome! Why wouldn’t we want to celebrate a moment or season of surety?

It’s possible, though, that you and I might be thinking of different types of certainty.

You see, there are two types:

The first is Earthly Certainty, the kind where you hit number 7 on the elevator panel and it will most certainly deliver you to the 7th floor. It’s when someone squeezes lemon juice on your papercut and you are certain that it will sting. (What kinds of people are you hanging out with, anyway?!) Earthly certainty is an assumption that history is a reliable indicator of what the future will bring. You’re certain that your garden will grow with plenty of water and sunshine. You don’t doubt that the baby will wake up if the mailman rings the doorbell. It’s financial security. It’s double checking the lock on the front door. It’s death and taxes and eating dessert first.

But there’s another type of certainty, friends, and it has to do with our position with Christ. It’s the certainty all believers share; the kind that will not fail. And it comes not from pensions and deadbolts and seat belts and likelihoods. It’s not a formula, and it’s not a strong possibility. It’s Jesus’ innocent blood shed on the cross for us. For you.That innocent blood shed in love and anguish guarantees a position in Christ for all who receive Him.

My dear sisters, I ache to think the faces that will surround you this Thanksgiving season might not be the ones you’d counted on seeing.

It’s safe to bet that, for better or worse, many of your living and financial situations this year are not quite what you expected them to be this time last year.

It’s possible, if not probable, that many of us feel weak going into this holiday season. The thought of “giving thanks in certainty” only serves to remind you of how positively uncertain life feels right now.

Find certainty in nothing but the blood of Christ, Sisters. It is real – the Gospel is true! And for that, let us give thanks!

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!”
Job 19:25-27

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For an added layer of worship and study, we chose a beloved hymn for each day of our Give Thanks plan. Today, we invite you to listen to “Blessed Assurance” as we dwell on the truth of God’s word together.

This hit me so hard. We are struggling and this is what I needed tonight. I know that God is with me no matter what. I should have always known but somehow I lost track of that. Now I am seeing it again.

One thing that is certain, no matter what our living and financial situation looks like, he has sustained our family. Willing to sacrifice the things that we want to have the things we need. He supplies all our needs, even when we have no idea where they will come from. This holiday season I don’t want to get caught up in the materialism.

“It’s Jesus’ innocent
blood shed on the cross for us. For you.
That innocent blood shed in love and
anguish guarantees a position in Christ for
all who receive Him.”

This truth is certain. Earthly certainty can’t even compare to this. The world fails us. He never fails us.

Beautiful!! I get so caught up in life I need to slow down and praise God in certainty! Because life in him is always certain!! What hope!!!

To be honest I am still chewing on yesterday’s “do I sit and savor the thanksgiving it look to the next horizon!” I have been meditating on that for over 24 hours!! Thank you for speaking to my heart!!!

I LOVE Romans 8:38-39!!! I have it underlined and hearted in my Bible and flip to it when whenever I am feeling low. God's love is so utterly amazing and He will never leave me no matter how many times I fall away from Him. That is so freaking awesome!!!

"Perfect submission, all is at rest." When we submit, we are at rest. lord Jesus, I submit to you today. Sorry, but that last verse of that song hit me with that. and I thank You, jesus, for your certainty.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
Father, praise you for NEVER letting go. Hold us all close to you today, so that we might have the strength and the power to do what you've called us to do.

I am so happy with this devotional!!! Today's really hit home for me! I am going on 8 months pregnant and the idea of moving right after the baby is born, the fact that I might be at home for awhile rather than going back to work, the holidays are near. I am feeling really overwhelmed!!! But I need to find the certainty in nothing, nobody, but Christ!!! PS. Blessed Assurance is the song that my mom sang all the time at home when I was a kid!!

Story of my life right now. At a time where I desperately need to feel in control of SOMETHING, I need to thank God that He is in control of EVERYTHING. I need to take a lot more time to realize this daily, and this devotion was a very timely reminder to that.

What blessed assurance we have in Jesus Christ. If He never gave me another blessing, I’d still praise His holy name because He died for me. That act alone deserves all I can give Him plus so much more. I’m feeling so grateful this morning. You can read my full responses to the SRT devos at sequinsandcoffee.tumblr.com

Good morning Lord! I am thankful for your goodness, the faith you have planted within me…the blood shed by your Son Jesus Christ! Sister's as we continue to walk in thanksgiving and praise to our Lord let us focus on God's love for each of us and pay it forward by sharing love with those we come in communication with:)

I have a special request-SRT sisters' would you pray over my son Darius Velazquez- he is scheduled to go to Basic Training in the US Air Force in February 2014…he hasn't told me because he is so scared…but I know. Would you pray for his salvation with me please…

praying! Praying God's awesome will that your son will come to know Him as his Savior and Lord. and praying a hedge of protection about him as he begins this new journey! Praying God's awesome peace and comfort for you!

If there is one piece of advice that I give to Trainees before they head to BMT it is to go to church while at Basic. Even if you are not religious, or don't believe in God, church is the one place and time that you don't have anyone yelling at you and you can be you for a little bit. I LOVED going to church during Basic and it definitely strengthened my faith and my love for Christ. Several girls in my BMT Flight (class) were baptized during Basic. It was an amazing thing to see. I will be praying for your son. But I recommend that you ask him to go to church while he's in Basic. The Lord will find him, it may not be at Basic, but at least your son will gain some peace during those long 8 weeks.

Your words are so special to me…When I initially read your email my eyeballs swelled with tears…God knew I needed to hear/read what you had to say. I see you survived your 8 wks- Are you still in the service? I look forward to how God will transform my son and again thank you for taking the time to respond to my request. May God keep you safe! Thank you so very much for your service, I will be praying for you!

I will definitely tell him, I was just sharing the testimony of how I asked and received, by the grace of God. I don't usually ask people to pray with or for me…and never did I imagine someone "YOU" someone who actually went through what my son will soon go through…amazing to see God at WORK! Thank you for being the Vessel:) GOD BLESS!

This is my story, this is my song! Praising my Savior, all the day long! Sometimes hard to do when everything is crumbling around you but if we can learn to praise Him THROUGH our circumstance we will win great victories!

I spent the evening with a great woman of God last night who has been going through the trial of her life for several months now. Not one time has she done anything but give God thanks and praise. She has shown nothing but mercy to the offending parties, others are amazed by her strength and stamina.

How does she do it they ask? I will tell you how! It is that CERTAINTY! It is her position in Jesus Christ…she knows whatever the outcome that she will be okay, she will survive because she has a future and a hope. One that does not fade away with time or lessen under pressure!

I wrote a post yesterday on "And having done all…STAND," how King David knew the secret to surviving hard times…1 Samuel said he strengthened himself in the Lord! He put on that whole armor of God! With that armor on, the devil is powerless against us! Certainty!

Thank you for an encouraging devotion this morning. So good to be back in the States and back with all of you!

Always so blessed by your comments candicejo. Yes I was listening ( and singing along ) with Blessed Assurance ( one of my favs) tears streaming down thinking how often I have missed opportunity to praise Him all the day long. Letting Life get in the way. And yet at the same time the tears were out of grateful ness for His Blessed Assurance. Filled with His Mercy and Love! Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift…that certainty of our position in Christ. Protected by God. Love,love,LOVE that!!!

So true Lucy…we let so many things take precedence over Him. I am GUILTY! But He is so patient with us. Don't beat yourself up, that's what the enemy wants us to do…just keep striving, keep loving, keep serving. He loves us, oh how He loves us! Blessings friend!! ♥

Praise be to God! We have "obtained an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for us, protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1Peter NASB) NOTHING can separate us! Thank you, Heavenly Father, for this precious, undeserved gift of salvation!